At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

7 nights bed & breakfast and hotel

6 days of guided snowshoeing

No previous experience necessary

Reasonable level of fitness required

Snowshoe in three national parks

The mountainous region of Abruzzo forms a spine between the beautiful cities of Rome and Pescara in central Italy. East from Rome, the hills gradually rise inland to reach towering peaks of almost 3000m that receive a heavy and lasting snowfall during winter. Boasting three National Parks dotted with remote mediaeval mountain-top villages, Abruzzo is the perfect area to walk among snow-capped jagged peaks while experiencing the culture and the exquisite cuisine of central Italy.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start in Calascio.

Start Calascio. This picturesque mediaeval village is home to the impressive Rocca Calascio, the highest fortress in the Appennines, sitting high at 1460m.See more images and videos

2Day 2Cross forests and walk along deep canyons to reach the Voltigno High Plateau.

Today we cross dense beech forests and walk along canyons to reach the vast Voltigno High Plateau, offering sweeping views of the lower valleys and of the whole province of Pescara.See more images and videos

A short drive takes us to the 16th century village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (1250m). This delightful town, dominated by the imposing Medici watchtower, is an architectural jewel with its archways and cobbled alleys. Our exploration continues walking through snow-covered pastures to Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo's vastest high plateau, surrounded by the highest peaks of the Appenines.See more images and videos

4Day 4From Castel del Monte walk up the ridge of Mt Bolza.

A short transfer takes us to Castel del Monte (1350m) and from here we climb up to the ridge of Mt Bolza (1900m) for breathtaking views over Campo Imperatore and on the Gran Sasso massif. This afternoon we will visit the stunning tower of Rocca Calascio.

Today we are transferred by private minibus to the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. We follow Mt Sirente's ridge (2348m) and enjoy spectacular views over the historic town of L'Aquila and of all Abruzzo's National Parks before heading to the small town of Caramanico Terme, our base for the remainder of the trip.

The beautiful mountain-top village Caramanico Terme offers magnificient views over the Majella National Park and boasts a walled mediaeval centre, thermal baths and the rock-hewn hermitage of San Bartolomeo. According to the snow conditions, we will either walk along the deep and lush gorge of the Orfento Valley, or snowshoeing around Mt Rapina, offering great views over the snow-capped peaks of the Majella N.P. and all Abruzzo.

Today we start in Passo San Leonardo and walk along the western slope of Mt Majella, considered a sacred mountain by the locals, up to the gulley of Monte Amaro continuing into the forest of Lama Bianca. See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are moderately fit and possess a spirit of adventure. Some previous experience is required for most activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, all dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Snowshoes and poles

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request) from GBP120

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

B&B & Hotel

Our base for 4 nights is the welcoming bed & breakfast Acca Lascio, situated in traditional stone buildings authentically renovated in the historic centre of Calascio. All twin-bedded and single rooms have shower, WC and free Wi-Fi. All twin rooms are en suite, while the 2 single rooms share a bathroom. We spend the last 3 nights in the charming 3-star Hotel Ede, where all twin and single rooms are en-suite. Additional facilities include a small wellness centre with sauna and jacuzzi.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
No visa required for British passport holders.
Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. Holiday style

This trip consists of six moderate daywalks with snowshoes. Daywalks will last between 5 to 6 hours on hilly-to-steep terrain. No previous snowshoeing experience is necessary but prior trekking experience and a good level of fitness is required.
On this trip we showshoe on mountainous terrain, in areas considered to have very low avalanche risk. Each day the leader will assess the conditions and choose the route according to current conditions and those forecast, prioritising group safety.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts and evening meals included.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

Abruzzo's temperatures are affected by two types of climate: 'Mediterranean' along the coast and 'continental' in its mountainous interior, where copious amounts of snow fall between December and mid-March. Average daytime temperatures in winter are around 3degC with approx. 8 to 10 hours of daylight. At all times of the winter you can hope for periods of clear bright weather and in February and March it can become surprisingly warm in the sun. Equally, at all times you need to be ready for the occasional stormy day.

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